An immunoperoxidase technique to aid in the differential diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma.

The unlabeled immunoperoxidase technique and antibody to human prostatic acid phosphatase was used to study a variety of normal and neoplastic tissues. The technique was found to be a useful adjunct in the differential diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma versus transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and rectal adenocarcinoma, but was not entirely specific, as cross-reactivity with rectal carcinoid tumors was documented. This study emphasizes the importance of controlled testing of these antibodies by pathology laboratories using immunoperoxidase techniques to assure accurate surgical pathologic diagnosis.